Valve for brass wind instruments



March 7, 1939. c. N. M WORNELL VALVE FOR BRASS WIND INSTRUMELITS FiledDec. 24, 1937 O N V E N TO R'- CHHRLES NORMHN MFICLEOD WORN-ELLFITTORNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE FORBRASS WIND INSTRUMENTS Application December 24, 1937, Serial No. 181,642In Great Britain February 16, 1937 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in valves for brass windinstruments, such as trumpets, cornets, tenor horns, valve trombones andthe like.

According to the invention the valve stem of a valve for a brass windinstrument is surrounded by a. skirt member dependent from the fingerpiece and which slidably engages a socket member secured to the valvecasing head.

Preferably the chamber provided by the association of the skirt memberand the socket member and through which the valve stem extends containsthe spring under the action of which the valve is operated.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference isdirected to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is an elevation partly in section of the valve portion of a brasswind instrument wherein the valves are constructed in accordance withthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional view showing a valve of slightly modifiedconstruction.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates a portion of a trumpetprovided with the usual three valves I, 2, 3, each of which is operatedby means of a spring control finger piece, 4, 5, 6 connectedrespectively to the aforesaid valves through the medium of Valve stemsI, one of which is shown in Fig. 1, the respective finger pieces beingreturned after depression by means of a spring 8.

The stem I of the valve is surrounded by a skirt member 9 which slidablyengages a socket member l secured to the top of the valve casing, forexample, by screw threading as indicated at I2, the spring 8 beingdisposed in the chamber formed by the association of the two members 9and II]. The skirt member 9 is preferably of substantially bell shapedform as indicated in the drawing and surrounds the upper part of thevalve stem the rim of the skirt member extending into the socket memberI0 which is of cylindrical cross-section, valve stem I extending throughthe base I3 of the socket and being connected to the piston valve I4 inthe usual manner.

The chamber formed by the association of the bell like skirt and thesocket member provides a housing for the valve spring 8 which lattersurrounds the valve stem and is compressed by depression of thebell-shaped member which carries the finger piece, into the socketmember I0, the inner wall of which slidably engages the outer wall ofthe skirt member 9 thus providing a telescopic construction.

Preferably the base I3 of the socket member is formed centrally thereofwith a tubular upstanding, exteriorly threaded projection I3a throughwhich the valve stem 1 extends and in threaded engagement with whichprojection is a washer or collar I which forms a means for locating thelower end of the spring 8 and regulating the tension of said spring.Similarly the inner end of 10 the skirt member is recessed orapproximates in size to the upper end of the spring. The constructionserves to maintain the spring perfectly upright in relation to the valvestem, the spring being out of contact with the walls of the skirt II andsocket and valve stem.

A felt washer I6 is associated with the valve stem I in the known mannerto provide means for closing off the opening through which the valvestem extends and serve as a damper or cushion upon the return of thevalve stem to its normal position thus obviating noise.

Fig. 2 illustrates a slight modification of the construction of themeans for adjusting the tension of the spring 8. In this arrangement thevalve stem 1 is screw threaded at its upper end to receive ascrew-threaded dished collar Il which is capable of adjustment along theValve stem I and thereby affects the tension of the spring 8. The collarIT is locked into its ad- 80 justed position by means of a nut l8, whichmay be recessed into the collar IT, a pin spanner being used for itsremoval. The finger piece 9 is connected to the valve stem I in theusual manner, or for example, by means of a screw I9 85 secured to thefinger piece and which co-operates with a screw threaded recess 20formed axially in the valve stem 1.

The skirt and the socket member although preferably of circular crosssection may be rectangular or other cross section, the exterior form ofthe two members may be of any desired shape, for example, of stepformation from the top of the finger piece to the base of the socketmember.

It will be appreciated that a valve constructed 46 in accordance withthe invention provides an arrangement in which a piston valve and itsassociated stem is readily operable without jambing or sticking due todirt or other cause. Further the spring is contained in a substantiallydust proof 50 chamber, and, being isolated from the Valve chamber isprotected from corrosion due to moisture caused by condensation orsaliva of the player.

Further the valve proper only contacts with the wall of the valve casingand the two sides of the lug which forms a guide.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve for a wind musical instrument of the kind specifiedcomprising a valve casing, a head therefor, a valve having a stemextending through said casing head, and the extremity of said stem beingprovided with a finger piece secured to the extremity of said valvestem, a skirt member dependent from said finger piece extending into asocket member formed in one piece with said casing head, said skirtmember and socket member together forming a housing for a valve spring,and means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

2. A valve for a wind musical instrument of the kind specifiedcomprising a valve casing, a head therefor, a valve having a stemextending through said casing head, and the extremity of said stem beingprovided with a finger piece secured to the extremity of said valvestem, a skirt member dependent from said finger piece extending into andslidably engaging a socket member secured to said valve head said skirtmember and socket member together forming a housing for a valve spring,means for adjusting the tension of said spring comprising a collaradjustable longitudinally upon said valve stem and between which and thecasing head the valve spring is disposed.

3. A valve for a wind musical instrument of the kind specifiedcomprising a valve casing, a head therefor, a valve having a stemextending through said casing head, and the extremity of said stem beingprovided with a finger piece secured to the extremity of said valvestem, a skirt member dependent from said finger piece extending into andslidably engaging a socket member formed in one piece with said casinghead and wherein the said members house the valve spring, and means foradjusting the tension of said spring comprising a collar adjustablelongitudinally upon said valve stem and between which and the casinghead the valve spring is disposed.

4. A valve for a musical wind instrument as claimed in claim 2, having alock nut for maintaining the position of said collar after adjustment.

CHARLES NORMAN MACLEOD WORNELL.

